Joseph r



J. R. SMITH. BUTTON.

(No Model.)

. UNITED STATES.4

PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH R. SMITH, OF VVATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE VVATERBURYBUTTON COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

BUTTON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 424,733, dated April 1,1890.

Application filed January 27, 1890. Serial No. 338,184. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH R. SMITH, of Vaterbury, in the county of NewHaven and State of Connecticut, have invented anew Improvement inButtons; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connectionspecification, and represent, in

Figure l, a vertical section of the button detached; Fig. 2, the shankof the button as prepared for attachment; Fig. 3, a vertical section ofthe fastener detached and Without the cap; Fig. 4, the same section Withthe cap; Fig. 5,avertical section representing the button as applied toa garment; Fig. 6, the instrument by Which the fastener may beintroduced; Fig. 7, the button as made from a single disk.

This invention relates to an improvement in the construction of buttonsand fastenings therefor, whereby the button is readily secured to thegarment, the object being a simple construction, which enables thebutton to be quickly and easily applied to the garment, and When onceattached is substantially inseparable from the garment; and it consistsin the construction as hereinafter described, and particularly recitedin the claim.

A represents the front or face of the button, which is made from metal;B, a metal disk arranged on the back of the face, and around which theedge of the face is closed so as to secure the disk B firmly in place.The disk B forms, practically, the back of the button. Before unitingthe back B to the face a shank C is secured to the back, Which Willraise it vfrom the surface to Which the button is to be attached. Thisshank is a metal tube constructed with an annular shoulder ce at oneend, produced by a reduction in the diameter of the tube, the portionabove the shoulder being adapted to pass through a corresponding openingin the back B, and so that the end may be closed down thereon, 'as seenin Fig. l, to firmly secure the shank thereto. The opposite end of theshank is constructed With an internal annular shoulder l) by anenlargement of the diameter of the shank at that end. Into this tubularshank an eyelet D is set, its iiange resting on the shoulder b and thesurrounding metal of the shank closed down thereon, so as to firmlysecure the eyelet in a central position in the shank, as seen in Fig. 1.The length of the eyelet is such as to leave a free space around itsinner end. This completes the button.

The fastening is composed of a tube E (see Fig. 3) of an externaldiameter substantially the same as the internal diameter of the eyeletB. This tube is constructed With a flange CZ around the head end, andfrom the other end one or more slits e are cut, so as to split the tubefrom that end toward the head. At the split end the edge is turnedoutward to form a slightly-projecting angef. The length of the tubebetween the flanges d and f is somewhat greater than the length of theeyelet D, and preferably over the head end a cap F is applied, its edgeclosed around the flange and so as to form a close head for thefastening device. The slitting of the tube E gives to it at the splitend a considerable degree of elasticity, so that it maybe readilycontracted, and by the reaction under its own elasticity resume itsnormal position when the force which contracts it is removed. pletes thefastener. To attach the button, the button is set upon the side of thegarment, or Whatever it may be to which it is to be applied., and thesplit end of the fastener is introduced through a corresponding hole inthe garment, force being applied to drive the fastener into the button.The funnel shape of the eyelet D Will cause the tube E to contract untilthe flange f shall have arrived at a position above the upper end of theeyelet, as seen in Fig. 5. Then the react-ion of the tube E causes itsexpansion, the flange f passing over the end of the eyelet, and so as toengage there- With, which prevents the accidental Withdrawal of thefastener from the button.

The cap F may be omitted from the fastener 5 but I prefer to employthecap, as it covers an opening, which would otherwise exist, into thetube.

Asaconvenience to introduce the fastener, apointed instrument such asseen in Fig. 6 may be employed, it being constructed of a diameter atits base, corresponding to the di- This com- ICO ameter of the flange fof the fastener, the base having a shank to set Within the tube E, asseen in Fig'. G, and so that by applying the point upon the reverse sideof the garment, where the button is to be attached, and forcing thisinstrument through the garment, the fastener will follow the instrument.Then when the instrument is removed, the button is forced onto thefastener, this being a common and Well-known device for attachingbuttons of this class.

It will bev understood that the face of the button may be omitted, as incase Where the button is made from a single disk, as B, Fig. 7.

I claim- A button composed of a disk havinga tubular shank C, centrallyattached thereto, combined with an eyelet set Within said shank of alength less than the internal length of the shank, the liange of theeyelet closed Within the outer end of the shank, and a fastener composedof a split tube E of a diameter corresponding substantially to theinternal diameter of said eyelet and constructed With a flange d at oneend, the tube split from the opposite end, and the said opposite endconstructed with an annular outwardly-projecting flange f, the length ofthe tube between the anges cl and f somewhat greater than the length ofthe said eyelet, said tube adapted to enter said eyelet, and the saidflange f to engage over the inner end of the said eyelet, substantiallyas described.

JOSEPH R. SMITH. lVitnesses:

A. C. MINTIE, NEWTON C. SMITH.

